Christ’s Future Ministry

Friday, March 18

See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!—John 1:29.

Jesus explained that he came, “not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many.” The “many” who would benefit from Jesus’ ransom were not to be limited to repentant Jews. Rather, it is God’s will that “all sorts of people should be saved,” since the ransom “takes away the sin of the world!” Did those early disciples of Jesus have the needed courage to keep on witnessing about him? Indeed they did. Some 27 years after Pentecost 33 C.E., it could be said that “the message of truth of the good news” had reached Jews and Gentiles “in all creation under heaven.”

COMMENTARY

Jesus had a multi-faceted ministry over the course of the three and one half-years from the time he was anointed. He ministered to the sick and hungry and to those burdened down with sin. He even ministered to the dead by bringing them back to life, at least temporarily. And, of course, he ministered on a spiritual level as well. His spiritual ministry continues to this day, carried on by his disciples.

But there is another ministry that Jesus will perform in the future. Yes, you might be thinking of his service to mankind during the one thousand-years when he will serve as a king and priest, and you would be right. But there is another type of ministry that Jesus will perform before the end of this world. What is that? It is the ministry known as the parousia – the presence.

Presently Jehovah’s Witnesses are laboring under the delusion that the parousia of Christ began in 1914. However, according to Jesus his unexpected coming as a thief will be followed by his ministering to his chosen ones in a very special way. Jesus explained it in the 12th chapter of Luke, saying: “Be dressed and ready and have your lamps burning, and you should be like men waiting for their master to return from the marriage, so when he comes and knocks, they may at once open to him. Happy are those slaves whom the master on coming finds watching! Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come alongside and minister to them. And if he comes in the second watch, even if in the third, and finds them ready, happy are they! But know this, if the householder had known at what hour the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also, keep ready, because at an hour that you do not think likely, the Son of man is coming.”

The Watchtower claims that the coming of the Son of man coincides with his coming on the clouds of heaven, which causes all the tribes of earth to beat themselves in grief. However, if that is true than how are we to understand what Jesus meant when he spoke of dressing himself for service and making his disciples recline at the table in order to minister to them? Is that something Jehovah’s Witnesses expect to happen in the future? No. In fact, the Watchtower attaches no importance whatsoever to Jesus’ words above. It is as if the passage doesn’t exist.

But clearly, Jesus is referring to his so-called parousia. We know that to be true because the word “parousia” literally means “being alongside.” And what did Jesus tell his disciples would happen if they are dressed and ready when he arrives? He said he “will come alongside and minister to them.”

And the whole point of Jesus’ illustration is to call to mind the occasion during the evening meal when Jesus washed the feet of his apostles. His parousia will be the end of the observance of the memorial, even as Paul noted when he commanded Christians to ‘keep doing this until he arrives.’

What this means is that Christ’s parousia has not occurred. The very fact Jehovah’s Witnesses believe it is a done deal insures that Christ’s coming will be at an hour “you do not think likely.”

Judging by the relentless push for global war it is apparent that the hour of his coming has drawn nigh.

Most recent comments

1john41Thank you for your response. It would be easier thou if you just stated your answers here as you have been doing. Anyway, I understood from the link that you do say the U.N. is the ‘disgusting thing" that stands in the holy place, but it is only so at the point that it becomes the 8th king. Is that correct? I did not see rather you say the U.N. is the KOTN. Interestingly, you said: ‘the real...

1914for100AlexLuke 21: 20“But when you see Jerusalem SURROUNDED by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21Then let those who are IN JUDEA FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS... Matthew 24: 15“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing IN the holy place (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are IN JUDEA FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS. Notice anything?

Robert KingI have written a number of articles on the topic of the disgusting thing. This site has a pretty good search feature. You can enter a term like "disgusting thing" and get good results. For example, here is one of the more recent articles from 2014 https://e-watchman.com/disgusting-thing-causes-desolation/ As far as the apostasy, the WT has been infiltrated by Masons, evidently from the very beginning....

1john41While waiting to hear back with your answers to these two questions: Is the KOTN the U.N.?
Is the 'disgusting thing' that will stand in the 'holy place' the U.N.? I have a few more: Has the KOTN put forth/lead the so-called apostasy yet? If no, when does that occur? Also, what is that said apostasy?

Revv_zone@gmail.com Please8834Speaking to your articles mention of the news Outlet lies.. You'd think anybody with half a brain would know the Russians had nothing to do with the election, there's only 538 electorial votes. And the majority voted for Trump I'm sure that all of them weren't brainwashed with fake news..

1john41Yes it is shut down, but not before the last king (8th king) arises but when he arises. How/who else other than the 8th king can shut it down? And when it is shut down it will be for a number of years (my guess 3 ½), so since you say that: ‘the book of Joel reveals that prior to the day of Jehovah the Christian ministry is shut down' That means that the ‘day of Jehovah' does not start with the...

1john41Thank you Moreau for your input but I am just looking to hear Robert's answers at the moment. He has been answering my questions clear and to the point and that is what I need in order to arrive at a conclusion on a couple of subjects. Your reply answer neither of my two questions.

JTKok Robert thank you, then there must be a difference between the "shut down" of the calling to be brothers of Christ i.e the Christian ministry and the angel that declares to those on the earth to fear God and worship Him
i suggest that scripture has priority for the calling for the anointed, followed by a final gospel for others who live at the time that the 8th king rules, or why would the angel...

Dr. Moreau (aka DΣαd Δl¡€π)U.N.- that is speculated. time will tell. (Rev 17:12). the KOTN is the City of London of Britain. that is why the Iron & Clay are a Anglo-American dual world power. north fudalism, south republicanism. a single two horned beast that looks like a lamb. when their wicked system comes out of its death-stroke then they, speaking as a dragon, will renew a final 8th king.
the king of the north is a...

FrankHi Robert: I enjoyed your article very much. There is so much in geo-politics that needs to be understood in order to understand the prophecies that deal with that very geo-politics. This is where the Watchtower falls so very short in their understandings. As you mentioned, being apolitical does not mean you can be politically ignorant and still understand the prophecies dealing with these last...